Is the electricity reliable in Yucatan: Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen, Cancun, Merida, etc? Are there blackouts or brownouts in Yucatan: Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen, Cancun, Merida, etc?
Wade Yarchan - Yucatan Beach Homes
I am from Florida, where we are used to a lot tropical storms and a lot of power outages, not on a daily basis like it was 20 or 30 years ago, but still on a pretty regular basis.
The reliability of the electricity in Yucatan was extremely surprising to me. My reference point is Merida and the beaches. The electricity at the beaches here is much more reliable than I ever expected. We do get brownouts and sometimes we get power surges, which is typical in a...
I am from Florida, where we are used to a lot tropical storms and a lot of power outages, not on a daily basis like it was 20 or 30 years ago, but still on a pretty regular basis.
The reliability of the electricity in Yucatan was extremely surprising to me. My reference point is Merida and the beaches. The electricity at the beaches here is much more reliable than I ever expected. We do get brownouts and sometimes we get power surges, which is typical in a lot of areas in Mexico, so you do things to protect yourself such as using surge protectors. The beach areas were recently upgraded from aluminum to copper cables with a larger CFB, which is the local government electric station. It’s incredible and it’s far better than I ever expected.
We don’t generally have blackouts here in the Yucatan. It is usually around storms that you only get problems with brownouts. If you take the storms away, we would probably have 99% very good electrical supply here.
(Restored Colonial with new plumbing and plumbing in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico, pictured.)
What's the dress code in Managua, Nicaragua? What clothes do they wear in Managua, Nicaragua?
Margaret Griffin
Most local Nicaraguans wear jeans and a clean, pressed shirt or polo shirt in Managua. Women usually don't wear shorts. In the States lots of people go to the mall or grocery store in their sweats, short shorts and flip flops. We don't see this in Managua. Even our maid wears a nice ironed blouse, make up and fancy shoes when she leaves the house.
Most local Nicaraguans wear jeans and a clean, pressed shirt or polo shirt in Managua. Women usually don't wear shorts. In the States lots of people go to the mall or grocery store in their sweats, short shorts and flip flops. We don't see this in Managua. Even our maid wears a nice ironed blouse, make up and fancy shoes when she leaves the house.
The best things to do in Belize for sure would be snorkeling, cave tubing, visiting a Mayan temple and going on a nature trail, which is hiking, basically. Then there's also bird watching. Belize has some of the best birds in Central America.
(Two ospreys off the mainland of Belize building their nest, pctured.)
The best things to do in Belize for sure would be snorkeling, cave tubing, visiting a Mayan temple and going on a nature trail, which is hiking, basically. Then there's also bird watching. Belize has some of the best birds in Central America.
(Two ospreys off the mainland of Belize building their nest, pctured.)
What should I be most concerned about regarding retiring abroad?
John Ohe - Hola Expat Tax Services
One of the things to be concerned about when retiring overseas is when you have a lot of immediate and extended family who are still in the United States and if you spend a lot of time with your family, moving abroad will make the family interaction a lot more difficult.
There is a lot more technology nowadays such as Skype or getting on a plane, depending on where you are, is always a possibility. However, the actual physical meetings with family...
One of the things to be concerned about when retiring overseas is when you have a lot of immediate and extended family who are still in the United States and if you spend a lot of time with your family, moving abroad will make the family interaction a lot more difficult.
There is a lot more technology nowadays such as Skype or getting on a plane, depending on where you are, is always a possibility. However, the actual physical meetings with family members are a lot more difficult when you live abroad. They can come visit you or you can go visit them, but the frequency with which you can interact with family members does take a hit when you move abroad.
The second thing to be concerned about when moving abroad is that without a lot of planning, the initial transition itself could be quite difficult. If you're not an open-minded person, moving abroad could be quite difficult because of language barriers. Also, the different types and levels of infrastructure could vary among countries. You may not have the comfort level you may have had in the US wherever you're going. You have to build a new community of friends who you're going to interact with locally, which you're going to have to build from scratch.
The third concern has to deal with all the start-up necessities of not only moving homes, but moving to an entire different country where you have different systematic issues that you must deal with.
Are there islands in Portugal? If so, where, and what are they like?
Luis Teixeira da Silva - Algarve Senior Living
The obvious answer to this one is, of course, that the reason that Portugal has one of the largest maritime zones in the world is that its outer fringes are bordered by the archipelago of Madeira, comprised of Madeira and Porto Santo, and the archipelago of the Azores, which are strategically located in the mid-Atlantic (the US has had a military base at Lages for many years, although its presence has recently reduced to much concern of the local population). Portugal's highest...
The obvious answer to this one is, of course, that the reason that Portugal has one of the largest maritime zones in the world is that its outer fringes are bordered by the archipelago of Madeira, comprised of Madeira and Porto Santo, and the archipelago of the Azores, which are strategically located in the mid-Atlantic (the US has had a military base at Lages for many years, although its presence has recently reduced to much concern of the local population). Portugal's highest mountain, Pico, is in the Azores.
What's my best strategy for health insurance for retiring in Panama?
MANUEL GRANADOS - MEDICAL SERVICE PANAMA, S.A. (MS PANAMA, S.A.)
There are several options for health insurance in Panama. You can contact any of the private insurance companies and inquire as to what plans they have available. Previously they required that you sign up for their insurance prior to your 64th birthday. They would also lower your coverage to half when you reached an age in your 70's.
The best option is to obtain your health insurance from one of the local private hospitals in Panama. My recommendation is for...
There are several options for health insurance in Panama. You can contact any of the private insurance companies and inquire as to what plans they have available. Previously they required that you sign up for their insurance prior to your 64th birthday. They would also lower your coverage to half when you reached an age in your 70's.
The best option is to obtain your health insurance from one of the local private hospitals in Panama. My recommendation is for Hospital San Fernando and Hospital Chiriqui in David. They offer the best health insurance for retirees and have been selling their plan for a number of years. Their rates are based upon age. The rates are lower than any other insurance company in Panama. They also cover pre-existing conditions.
Wouldn’t it have been nice if, when you were growing up, you had an aunt who was always there when you needed her, who understood you, who always seemed to know what you needed and gave it to you, but who didn’t ask for anything in return? The one who, if you got into an argument with your parents, you could go to? Who would not be judgmental, and would help to make everything right? Putting aside the lopsidedness of such a relationship, we came to view Ajijic as that...
This morning my wife and I made our first official visit to a medical provider here in Medellin Colombia. I had a minor issue that I was sure would dissipate with the ‘tincture of time,’ as health professionals refer to treatment for temporary, innocuous conditions. But we decided to take our health care insurance for a test drive anyway, just to learn how the system works. Not only was it an enlightening visit, introducing us to the health care system in Colombia, but...
On September 7, the Panama men’s and women’s flag football national teams will be flying to Grosseto, Italy, for the International Federation of American Football Flag Football World Championship. Originally scheduled for August 13-15, in Jerusalem, the tournament had to be moved because of the violence in that region.
This event has been held every two years since 2002 and is the showpiece event for senior national teams competing in 5-on-5 flag...
I am from Florida, where we are used to a lot tropical storms and a lot of power outages, not on a daily basis like it was 20 or 30 years ago, but still on a pretty regular basis. 
The best things to do in Belize for sure would be snorkeling, cave tubing, visiting a Mayan temple and going on a nature trail, which is hiking, basically. Then there's also bird watching. Belize has some of the best birds in Central America. 
One of the things to be concerned about when retiring overseas is when you have a lot of immediate and extended family who are still in the United States and if you spend a lot of time with your family, moving abroad will make the family interaction a lot more difficult. 
itime zones in the world is that its outer fringes are bordered by the archipelago of Madeira, comprised of Madeira and Porto Santo, and the archipelago of the Azores, which are strategically located in the mid-Atlantic (the US has had a military base at Lages for many years, although its presence has recently reduced to much concern of the local population). Portugal's highest....jpg)
Wouldn’t it have been nice if, when you were growing up, you had an aunt who was always there when you needed her, who understood you, who always seemed to know what you needed and gave it to you, but who didn’t ask for anything in return? The one who, if you got into an argument with your parents, you could go to? Who would not be judgmental, and would help to make everything right? Putting aside the lopsidedness of such a relationship, we came to view Ajijic as that....png)
On September 7, the Panama men’s and women’s flag football national teams will be flying to Grosseto, Italy, for the International Federation of American Football Flag Football World Championship. Originally scheduled for August 13-15, in Jerusalem, the tournament had to be moved because of the violence in that region.